How to Insert a Graphic or Animation Into an Outlook Signature

Use a picture to spice up your email signature

by Heinz Tschabitscher
A former freelance contributor who has reviewed hundreds of email programs and services since 1997.
Updated November 12, 2019

Your email signature sends a strong professional or promotional message. This is true for text, but images convey meaning faster and in a richer manner. Of course, pictures can be added just for fun, too.

Instructions in this article apply to Outlook 2019, Outlook 2016, Outlook 2013, Outlook 2010, and Outlook for Office 365.

How to Add Images to an Outlook Signature

In Outlook, adding a graphic or animation (an animated GIF, for example) to your signature is as easy as adding a picture to an email.

  1. Go to the File tab.

    Outlook inbox with the Home tab selected.

  2. Select Options.

    Viewing the options page in Outlook.

  3. In the Outlook Options dialog box, select Mail.

    Outlook option dialog box with mail settings selected.

  4. In the Compose messages section, select Signatures.

    Selecting the signatures options in Outlook.

  5. In the Signatures and Stationery dialog box, go to the E-mail Signature tab and select New.

    If you want to add an image to an existing signature, select the signature you want to edit, then go to Step 8.

    Signatures and stationery options in Outlook.

  6. In the New Signature dialog box, enter a descriptive name for the new signature and select OK.

    Creating a name for a new email signature in Outlook.

  7. In the Signatures and Stationery dialog box, select the signature you want to edit, go to the Edit signature section, and enter the text you want to include.

    Viewing an email signature in Outlook.

  8. Position the cursor where you want to insert the picture.

  9. In the Formatting toolbar, select Insert Picture.

    Selecting the insert picture option in Outlook.

    Adding an attachment increases the message size. Select a small image (less than 200 KB) to avoid having it take up too much space in the email.

  10. In the Insert Picture dialog box, navigate to the folder that contains the image file, choose the image file, then select Insert.

    Searching for an image to add to a signature in Outlook.

  11. In the Signatures and Stationery dialog box, select OK to save the signature.

    A newly created signature with graphics in Outlook.

  12. In the Outlook Options dialog box, select OK.